Electrolyte and method of electrodepositing zinc.



NITED srrnrnsg grnnr OFFICE."

EDWARD F. KERN, OF KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO PERCY S.

BROWN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

ELECTROLYTE AND METHOD OF ELECTIEODEPOSITING- ZINC.

No Drawing.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Aug, 16, 1910,

Application filed September 1, 1909. Serial No. 515,667.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD F. KERN, citizen of the United States, residing at Knoxville, in the county of Knox and State of Tennessee, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Electrolytes and Methods of Electrodepositing Zinc, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved process for the electrodeposition of zinc, and

to an electrolyte for use in the practice of the said process.

I have discovered that a dense coherent and adherent deposit of zinc may be obtained by the electrolysis of a bath containing fluo-silicate of zinc in solution, and that particularly good results are obtained by the electrolysis of a bath containing fluo-silicate. of zinc and a fluo-silioate-of a metal which stands higher than zinc in the solution pres sure series, preferably fluo-silioate of a umi num. I have found that the addition of organic material hereinafter termed organic addition agent, such for example, as grape-sugar to the bath above mentioned improves the operation of my process and articularly improves the appearance of the eposit, and I have also found that in certam cases, the further addition of ammonium fluorid to the bathis advantageous as hereinafter more particularly pointed out.

In the practice of my rocess, I prefer to use a bath containing the materials above mentioned in the following proportions; the

parts being by Weight. Water 100 parts Zinc fluo-silicate 12 or more F Aluminum fluo-silicate 10 Grape-sugar 10 Ammonium fluorid 5 In the electrolysis of my improved bath, I employ an anode of zinc or an anode consisting of an alloy the greater art of which;

is zinc. In certain cases, in or or to restrain the separation of silica in the operation of my process, I have found it advisable to add ammonium fluorid from time to time, this of ammonium fluori to one or morefparts of the zinc in the bath. The additionqoi the ammonium fluorid thereafter may be wias s:

materials which I prefer to employ, it will be understood that these proportions may be widely varied, and that commercially satisfactory results may be obtained omitting certain of the constituents of the bath as hereinbefore described.

Having described m invention, I claim:

1 A process of e ectrodepositing zinc, whlch consists in electrolyzing a solution containin fluo-silicate of zinc, fluo-silicate of a meta which stands higher in the solut1on ressure series than zinc, anorganic addition agent and ammonium fluorid. v 2. process of eleotrodepositing zinc, which consists in electrolyzing a solution containing fluo-silicate of zinc, fluo-silicate of aluminum, grape-sugar and ammonium fluorid. y

3. The herein described process of electrodepositing zinc, which consists in electrolyzing a solution containing fluo-silicate of zinc, fiuo-silicate of a metal which stands higher in the solution pressure series than zinc, an organic addition a ent, and adding ammonium fluorid thereto rom time to time during the electrolysis.

4. The herein described process of electro depositing zinc, which consists in electrosugar, and addin ammonium fluorid thereto from time to time duringthe electrolysis. 5. An electrolyte comprising a solution of fluo-silicate of zinc, fluo-silicate of a metal which stands higher in thetsolution pressure series than zinc, an organic addition agent,

and ammonium 'fluori 6. An electrolyte comprising a solution of fiuo-silicate of zinc, fluo-silicate of aluminum, ape-sugar and ammonium fluorid. 7.

process for electrodepositing zinc, which consists in electroly'zing a solut on containing a salt of zinc, a salt of aluminium, an .organic substance, and a salt of ammonium, p c L'SQ IA process for eleotrodepositing zinc, whicheonsists in electrolyzmg a solution silicate, and ammonium fluorid.

in presence 0' two Witnesses. a vrmwnao, r. KERN.

R.-M. DOLL, J. T. Gama-r.

I Intestimon" whereof I afiix my signature y H containing aluminium fiuo-silioate, zinc fluomaterial being added to the bath at the out set, in the preferred roportionof one pa ft 

